Suspect named in triple fatality hit-and-run

ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg police say they know who caused a fiery hit-and-run wreck that left three people dead.

Police late Friday announced arrest warrants have been issued for Marquice Lamonz Anderson, 27, of 527 52nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg. The warrants charge Anderson with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

The early Thursday wreck left two people dead at the scene and one critically injured. On Friday,

Grace Lashawn Collier, 25, who had been taken to Tampa General Hospital with massive internal injuries and major burns, died after she was taken off life support, police spokesman Mike Puetz said.

Collier was the aunt of the other two occupants in the Saturn. Briana Lequinda Campbell, 23, and Jame’sia Chera Santoria Lang, 21, were trapped inside after the car burst into flames.

Investigators said Anderson was the driver who who bailed out of the Chrysler 200 and ran following the 3 a.m. wreck at 16th Street and Ninth Ave. S..

Investigators said they believe Anderson knows he is wanted and is in hiding.

Seconds before the collision, both the 2004 Saturn and the 2012 Chrysler were southbound on 16th Street. But the Chrysler was driving in the northbound lane, so when the Saturn turned left, to go into a parking lot at 882 16th St. S., the Chrysler struck the left rear of the Saturn, according to Traffic Homicide Investigator Mike Jockers.

As the Saturn spun, Campbell was thrown from the right front seat onto the rear seat, on top of Lang, Jockers wrote. Meanwhile, Collier was thrown across the inside of the Saturn, and was partially ejected out of the passenger window. The car burst into flames, and only Collier was found outside, Jockers wrote.

The Chrysler and the Saturn had left Club One South Bar, 1833 First Ave. S., police and family members said.

The three women were described as inseparable.

Collier, who lived in St. Petersburg, left behind two boys, ages 6 and 2. Lang, also of St. Petersburg, had left behind a 5-year-old boy. And Campbell, who lived with her mother in Gulfport, left behind 3-year-old twins and a 1-year-old son.